Pacific Winds 20260730

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

From Hanoi to Manila: Japan’s Updated ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ Takes Shape
The Diplomat 20260729
https://thediplomat.com/2026/07/from-hanoi-to-manila-japans-updated-free-and-open-indo-pacific-takes-shape/

Xi’s odyssey through Western confusion
Asia Times 20260729
https://asiatimes.com/2026/07/xis-odyssey-through-western-confusion/

US bans new Chinese robots, power inverters in latest tech crackdown
SCMP 20260729
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3362185/us-bans-new-chinese-robots-power-inverters-latest-tech-crackdown

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Futureproofing Guam for the next phase of the bulidup
KUAM 20260729
https://www.kuam.com/story/340375662/futureproofing-guam-for-the-next-phase-of-the-bulidup

Island Waves

Solomons PM says US to finance key port after Chinese interest
AFP 20260729
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/solomons-pm-says-us-finance-key-port-after-chinese-interest-6285446

Mixed messages over Solomons-US security deal
Islands Business 20260728
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/mixed-messages-over-solomons-us-security-deal/

Pacific leaders ‘play both sides’ as China divides Forum over missile test – expert
Post Courier (PNG) 20260729
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/pacific-leaders-play-both-sides-as-china-divides-forum-over-missile-test-expert/

Contested and congested: Pacific regional architecture getting complex, security expert says
RNZ 20260729
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/828046/contested-and-congested-pacific-regional-architecture-getting-complex-security-expert-says

Taiwan tests economic leverage after Papua New Guinea closes representative office
RFA 20260729
https://www.rfa.org/english/pacific/2026/07/29/taiwan-png-lng-trade-office-closure/

Taiwan to stop buying PNG gas on spot market over ‘One China’ spat
ABC (AU) 20260729
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-29/taiwan-to-stop-buying-png-gas-on-spot-market/106972968

PNG and China Strengthen Friendship with News Commitments
Post Courier (PNG) 20260729
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/png-and-china-strengthen-friendship-with-new-commitments1/

Leader of the official Opposition and China’s IDCPC reaffirm commitment to stronger Solomon Islands- China relations
SIBC 20260729
https://www.sibconline.com.sb/leader-of-the-official-opposition-and-chinas-idcpc-reaffirm-commitment-to-stronger-solomon-islands-china-relations/

Australian Delegation Visits Mt. Hagen to Commission WHP Community Projects
Post Courier (PNG) 20260729
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/australian-delegation-visits-mt-hagen-to-commission-whp-community-projects/

Australian-supported specialist surgical team delivers life-changing care in Vanuatu
Daily Post 20260729
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/australian-supported-specialist-surgical-team-delivers-life-changing-care-in-vanuatu/article_8318eff7-e917-5159-9135-e57241c379cf.html

Australia Expands Online Safety Support Across the Pacific
Post Courier (PNG) 20260729
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/australia-expands-online-safety-support-across-the-pacific/

Australia funded hospital still in planning stage
FBCN 20260729
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/australia-funded-hospital-still-in-planning-stage/

Fujian hosts maritime training program for Pacific island officials
CH Fujian 20260729
https://www.fujian.gov.cn/english/cultureandtravel/events/202607/t20260729_7193470.htm

Pacific island lawmakers tour Yunnan to study rural vitalization, ecology
China Daily 20260729
https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202607/29/WS6a69ae08a310986e2b467f2f.html

Drawing a line in the ocean
Inside Story 20260727
https://insidestory.org.au/drawing-a-line-in-the-ocean/

Taiwan + xCS

Ocean Affairs Council reaffirms Taiwan as key US maritime partner
Taiwan News 20260729
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6409876

U.S. Reveals Coast Guard Cooperation with Taiwan
USNI 20260729
https://news.usni.org/2026/07/29/u-s-reveals-coast-guard-cooperation-with-taiwan

US posts photo of coastguard working with Taiwan after Beijing starts patrols
SCMP 20260729
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3362193/us-posts-photo-coastguard-working-taiwan-after-beijing-starts-patrols

AIT stirs new provocation with US Coast Guard photo post, 'violating US' commitment': expert
GT 20260729
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1367127.shtml

Clinging to each other for assurance via photo only highlights AIT, DPP’s deep anxiety
GT 20260729
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1367107.shtml

Mainland spokesperson says fisheries survey east of Taiwan is ‘legitimate and lawful,’ slams DPP budget push
GT 20260729
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1367052.shtml

Three Weeks to Win: Why Xi’s Taiwan Invasion Was Always a Race Against the Clock
SWJ 20260728
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/07/28/three-weeks-to-win/

Taiwan Needs an AI Cyber Shield Now to Defend Against Invasion
CSIS 20260729
https://www.csis.org/analysis/taiwan-needs-ai-cyber-shield-now-defend-against-invasion

Taiwan tracks 8 Chinese military aircraft, 8 ships
Taiwan News 20260729
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6410215

China’s Next Play for the South China Sea
FA 20260729
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/chinas-next-play-south-china-sea

China’s singing sailors could be latest weapon in fight for South China Sea
ABC (AU) 20260729
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-29/beijing-releases-south-china-sea-propaganda-love-song/106963804

PH presents submission on extended continental shelf in West Philippine Sea
Rappler 20260729
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/submission-extended-continental-shelf-west-palawan-region-sea/

Chinese research ship leaves Japan’s EEZ near Senkaku Islands
NHK 20260728
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20260728_01/

The Batanes Islands: A strategic hinge in the Luzon Strait
UPI 20260729
https://www.upi.com/Voices/2026/07/29/South-China-Sea-Philippines-Batanes-Islands-sovereignty/1731785349706/

Capabilities

A New Age of Missiles Reshapes Battlefields Around The World
Bloomberg 20260729
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-29/a-new-dawn-of-missiles-shapes-battlefields-from-ukraine-to-iran

China Fires YJ-20 Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile From Smaller Destroyer
TWZ 20260729
https://www.twz.com/sea/china-fires-yj-20-hypersonic-anti-ship-missile-from-smaller-destroyer

Official video debuts YJ-20 hypersonic missile launched from Type 052D destroyer, boosting anti-ship capabilities: experts
GT 20260729
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1367091.shtml

Winning at Sea by Controlling the Air: The Strategic Centrality of Airbase Defense
Mitchell 20260728
https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/app/uploads/2026/07/MI_Forum_62-Winning-at-Sea-Controlling-the-Air-FINAL.pdf

Prized Ohio Class Guided Missile Submarine USS Georgia Heading Into Retirement
TWZ 20260728
https://www.twz.com/sea/prized-ohio-class-guided-missile-submarine-uss-georgia-heading-into-retirement

Can the US fend off China’s subsea drones? Its coastguard looks for answers
SCMP 20260729
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3362267/can-us-fend-chinas-subsea-drones-its-coastguard-looks-answers

More than 35 Experiments Test Unmanned Systems, Emerging Technologies During RIMPAC
USNI 20260729
https://news.usni.org/2026/07/29/more-than-35-experiments-test-unmanned-systems-emerging-technologies-during-rimpac

Hanwha Ocean Advances Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Through Naval Vessel Development and Broader Industry Collaboration
Naval News 20260729
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/07/hanwha-ocean-advances-korea-u-s-shipbuilding-cooperation-through-naval-vessel-development-and-broader-industry-collaboration/

Leidos subsidiary selected to design Australian nuclear submarine dry dock
Breaking Defense 20260729
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/07/leidos-subsidiary-selected-to-design-australian-nuclear-submarine-dry-dock/

Australia Selects Leidos Gibbs & Cox for AUKUS Dry Dock Design
Naval News 20260729
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/07/australia-selects-leidos-gibbs-cox-for-aukus-dry-dock-design/

Blurred Orbits: Inside China’s Commercial Space Expansion
CSIS 20260729
https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2026-07/260728_Bingen_Blurred_Orbits.pdf

Exercises

China, Russia wrap up joint maritime patrol as experts highlight growing capability to operate through strategic waterways
GT 20260729
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1367094.shtml

China-Russia Joint Exercises: Eliminating Radar Blind Spots is an Urgent Priority
Yomiuri 20260729
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20260729-340645/